Travel Log – Sunday, March 17, 2013

Ah, New Mexico!

When an attitude adjustment is needed we find it easy to change scenes with a trip to New Mexico. Bob said he needed to get away, relax, enjoy good food and take pictures. After an easy Sunday drive we’ve settled into a Staybridge Suite in Albuquerque where we’ve spotted green willows and blooming fruit trees. How refreshing after a series of snow storms in Denver.

Picture taking today focused on an old adobe church east of Santa Fe. Bob’s successfully completed watercolors of Nuestra Senora De La Luz at Canoncito. We’ve never before been here in early spring before the trees have leaved. Perhaps a new painting will soon be in the works.

We stopped in Las Vegas, NM for lunch. Trip Advisor list’s Charlie’s Bakery and Cafe as the #1 restaurant in Las Vegas. We’d been here years ago and it was time for a revisit, we weren’t disappointed. Old timers remember Charlie’s as the “Spic & Span” az the sign on the building still attests.

Charlie’s is open until 3pm, both the breakfast and lunch menu were available. We both chose the “Fluffy” – a handmade sopapilla stuffed with fluffy eggs and your choice of meats (bacon, ham, chorizo or sausage, steak for $1 more), smothered with either red or green chile and served with either hash browns or pipits. While we waited we watched a very busy lady making the fresh tortillas served and sold at Charlie’s. Our plates were delivered hot and so enticing I failed to think of taking a picture. The serving was too large for travelers needing to spend a few more hours in the car so we both have boxes in the hotel frig.

At the cash register I ordered two of their iced sugar cookies shaped as shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day. Bob had his immediately and I wolfed mine down while Bob was filling the car with gas. The best sugar cookie I’ve had in a very long time! We were temped to go back for a dozen but we resisted. But, I will remember the next time we’re anywhere near Las Vegas, NM.